27-year-old Dr Kershnee Sevnarayan is an inspiration to her pupils at Queens’s High School.
She has just obtained her PhD in Philosophy from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The English teacher said it has been difficult but the support kept her going.
“Being married and having two children – I had to juggle things around. My husband was very supportive, always pushing me to do my work on time,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
She said she wants to be an inspiration to her two children and hopes they walk in the same footsteps.
Dr Sevnarayan comes from an average family. Her father was a factory worker and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Money to further her studies was never available.
She sacrificed her time in her first year and through hard work she was able to obtain a bursary.
“During my first year in university I did not have any friends. I spent my time studying and it was all worth it,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
Because of her dedication, she has never had to pay for her studies from her own pocket because she has been receiving bursaries.
“Money should never be an obstacle. Everybody has the ability to achieve whatever they want. Hard work does pay off and always set goals for what you want to achieve because that is what I did. I planned when I was in high school that I want to have a doctor’s title before the age of 30,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
“I’m still getting use to being ‘Dr’ as it’s only been a month. The title comes with a lot of respect. I have even noticed it with my pupils – there is more respect,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
She said the school has been very supportive and allowed her to have study leave and even encouraged her.
Fellow teachers commended her for being inspirational.
She said her next step is to be a professor before the age of 33.
“I want to make a change in the education system. I may not know what it is yet but I will find it,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
“Never give up and anything is possible. If you put your mind to it, the only person who can stand in your way is you,” said Dr Sevnarayan.
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